Voices From The Outer Ring (Lead Role Re-Opened)
Project Overview
I am starting a friendly casual Discord group for aspiring voice actors and writers alike where members may help each other improve their crafts, provide feedback, pitch projects, and socialize. For the group itself, we will mainly be doing readings (and for writers: making) of post-by-post forum roleplays starting with the casting of the roles listed for this project page's available roles. Due to the nature of how forum-based roleplays are and how unpredictable they can be in terms of activity and lifespan - I feel it is only right that I give the fair warning that it is not guaranteed for any given roleplay to be seen to completion of its story, and I expect members to come and go. That being said, this group is being put out as a "for fun" project with experience and enjoyment being the main emphasis and goal.
What I am looking for to start this group off:
I am looking for voice actors to play the parts of the characters listed, as well as writers to contribute their own characters to the story's universe. The story will switch perspectives between the two lead roles who will be doing most of the narrating of the story. Every other character will be providing their voices in dialogue. As an applying voice actor, you may audition for however many roles you wish, but it should be noted that the two lead roles will naturally require the most commitment. For applying writers, simply prepare a sample of your work, and tell me about your character. If your audition/application is accepted, please give me your Discord so that you may be invited to the server. I will be providing feedback as best I can on all applications and auditions.
The Roleplay
With one swift motion, my blade twists and drives into his heart and he lets out one final gasp for air. His fearful eyes turn blank and his lifeless body drags against the wall and plummets to the floor. Taking a person's life... it's an uncanny feeling. The silence that comes once all the gunfire and screams have gone is absolutely deafening. The only thing I can hear now is the telltale ticking of the grandfather clock in the room, assuring me that I haven't been frozen in time, no matter how much it feels that way.
At some point in my life, I had to stop and wonder how it ever got like this. One day I'm arguing with my sister over something as petty as ice cream, and fast-forward a couple more and I've got a crimelord cornered in his own mansion after an adrenaline-filled night of slicing apart his legion of goons in an utter bloodbath. To think that my greatest worry the other week was being able to actually hold a conversation with a stranger without it drying up. And the worst part of it all? Dad was right all along - this kind of life will always follow you. Maybe that's why he had to leave back then. Maybe he was just trying to give me a chance not to make that same mistake.
Well... I certainly fucked up, didn't I?
Winddrift City, an ostentatious town with a promise of prosperity and glamour for all bewitched by its charm of neon lights and cloud-piercing skyscrapers. With the advent of technology and the evolution of social media, the masses have never been more detached and distracted from the shady dealings of corporate greed and the orchestrated designs of the elite upper class. At the other end of the spectrum, the rise of crime families and street gangs in the not-so-flashy parts of town have never been more rampant, turning their turfs into a playground of bullets and vices.
The tale follows the perspectives of Artemis, daughter of a former assassin on her eventual path to becoming a vigilante, and Jaska, a simple working man who soon becomes more than an observer to the happenings of the town.
Requirements:
A lot of these go without saying, but for formality's sake I will list them anyway.
- - Have a clear microphone for recording. Try to avoid background noise, echoes, plosives, and other sound that may interfere with your quality. (If you're applying exclusively as a writer, this most likely doesn't apply to you.)
- - You will need a Discord account set up, as this will be where all communication is done. If you are selected to be a part of this project, I will ask for your Discord so that you may be brought in to the server.
- - I hate to alienate potential candidates that may be a good fit for this project, but you must be at least 18 years of age to audition/apply. This roleplay may contain mature content that may be considered dark or otherwise controversial, and is not suited for all audiences.
- -Once you are a part of the Discord, please be mindful of the rules, and respectful to other members of the group. Drama will not be tolerated.
- -Troll auditions and applications will be ignored.
Benefits:
So why join this project? What do you get out of it?
- - Networking: Considering how competitive the field is, it's never a bad thing to build your connections. Knowing more people with similar interests can help you keep up to date with news and information with upcoming projects. If a future director or fellow voice actor becomes familiar with your work and enjoys it, chances are you're going to be considered and recommended for a specific piece of work that might come up. You never know when you're going to make that friend that will give you a leg up for your next audition.
- - Polish Your Craft: This project is a good opportunity for you to show off your skills and get feedback from other members to help improve your work. Having different opinions and constructive criticism can help push your abilities in the right direction.
- - It's "fun": Your mileage may vary. Again, this project is meant to be casual and enjoyable. If you aren't enjoying your work, why are you on this site?
Guidelines and tips for auditioning:
For voice actors:
- - I'll reiterate the first requirement of the project for emphasis. I'd like for you to have a microphone capable of producing clear audio for your recordings. I'm not saying you need to go out and buy an expensive, state-of-the-art microphone with a full audio interface, however a simple built-in laptop microphone or gaming controller headset isn't exactly going to produce the best results.
- - I would suggest trying not to overact or underact. As a general rule of thumb I would prefer for your reads to sound convincing as if they were coming from a person you could actually meet in real life. Portray the appropriate emotion without overdoing it or playing them down too hard. Nuance is key.
- - You may audition for as many roles as you wish, but if you want to do another take for a role you've already auditioned for, please wait until I have given feedback first.
- - If you are not cast for any of the roles listed, you may still be invited to the group. As the story progresses, more roles are inevitably added. Please make an audition for the "Extra Voices" role if you wish to be considered for future roles and be invited to the group.
- -Only read what is in quotations. Text in parentheses is merely put there for context.
For writers:
- - If applying for this role, it is highly recommended you be able to show a sample of your work.
- - Though I may accept multiple writers to join the group, keep in mind that I will only allow at most two writers to take part in the roleplay. This is to ensure that the story remains organized to prevent it from being derailed.
- - When designing a character for the story, yours must be a human. There will be characters that aren't of human species in the story, but to keep things simpler yours must be. If your character has any special powers, abilities, or talents, please state them in your application. Do know that they may be subject to certain limitations at my discretion. More context on how your character should fit in the universe will be explained in the "Writers" role.
Closing:
If you have any questions that aren't covered by this project description or need to contact me, feel free to send me a message or leave a comment. I may be updating the details of this project as necessary. As it currently stands, there is no real deadline for this project. Happy auditioning!
Edit Log:
9/23/18 - The role for Artemis has been reopened
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Daughter of an ex-assassin, Artemis was born with a superhuman ability to command darkness. She was brought up to never wear her heart on her sleeve, and as a result she appeared cold and distant to her peers to the point where she has trouble holding an average conversation in her present age without it drying up. Her loneliness has given way to depression which in turn has led to a borderline misanthropic outlook. One of her greatest fears is the feeling of being trapped - chained down to a one-track life devoid of greater purpose. As a teenager, she combated this fear by keeping vigil on the streets as a masked heroine and foiling crime with the use of her powers and skills that she inherited from her father. During college, she settled down into a comfortable apartment with her younger sister. Throughout her years, Artemis spent much of her free time learning computer science and programming; developing a knack for writing code and becoming familiar with cybersecurity protocol. She currently shares her knowledge on an anonymous dark web chat, regularly speaking with other members to discuss their latest developments. Despite having never seen their faces, the other members of the online chat have proven to be Artemis's closest friends. The desire to escape from the mundane soon overtakes her, and she eventually decides to take up the mantle as a vigilante once again.
Her voice is best described as soft, yet at times strained and flat. When annoyed, it becomes sharp and snappy. When happy, her voice is sincere, gentle, and silvery. Her normal tone of voice will gravitate towards a more somber feel. Keep in mind that this is a lead role, and will require greater commitment than the supporting and minor roles due to significantly more reading. Please only audition for this role if you are certain you will be able to consistently submit lines in a timely manner.
[Optional: You don't have to do this, but I would like it if you introduced yourself and state what made you interested in this project.]
(Narrating) "I could smell the lies coming off his breath like the stench of his last drink. I needed answers and he was playing around. I don't ask again. I break the glass over his face and I grab him by the collar. I've done my research on him - I know some of the things he's done. That's why I don't feel bad when I break his nose. I avoid the jaw in case he finally decides to loosen up his lips. Wanna know the really fucked up part? The feeling of caving in his giant pig snout is fucking electric. It's giving me a rush I haven't felt in a long time, and now... now I almost don't care if he doesn't talk. Either I get what I'm looking for, or I get a stress doll in the form of a human punching bag. I can deal with this."
(Announcing herself) "Corey, I'm home. I brought some takeout from down the block - they were having a special on orange chicken; hope you didn't fill up on chips while I was gone. I'm gonna take a quick shower and I'll set up dinner. Also, you might wanna turn down that movie or at least invest in some headphones. I don't want the neighbors coming over because they thought we were getting murdered again."
A young man who has lived a fairly average life thus far. Jaska never went to college and instead jumped from job to job while making a small circle of friends. Never really an ambitious man, Jaska found himself in a comfortable cycle of making a typical paycheck and hanging out with his circle on the weekends. Everything he has, he's worked for, and he's considered among his friends as the "voice of reason." At heart he is an observer; always taking in his surroundings and the people around him. Initially, Jaska is gentle and meek, but when he's dragged into the conspiratorial pull of the city's various factions, he soon learns to tap into burgeoning heroism to become something greater than he already is.
His voice should be medium-pitched with a warm tone. Keep in mind that this is a lead role, and will require greater commitment than the supporting and minor roles due to significantly more reading. Please only audition for this role if you are certain you will be able to consistently submit lines in a timely manner.
[Optional: You don't have to do this, but I would like it if you introduced yourself and state what made you interested in this project.]
(Narrating) "I remember the night I first met him. I was working a part-time shift at a convenience store. He came in one day, face bloodied up, looking like all kinds of hell. Despite the number done on him, he had a smirk on his face. I'll never forget it. It was a devil's kind of smirk. A 'You think I look bad? You should see what I did to the other guy' kind of smirk. He didn't speak a word. Didn't ask to use the phone or have me call a doctor. He just went and grabbed a six-pack of cold ones and slapped a twenty on the counter. The first thought that came to my mind was, 'Man, this guy must be some sort of badass.'"
(Introducing himself) "You know, we've been bumping into each other for a while now and I never really got the chance to know your name. I'm Jaska, but you can call me Jas."
Cornelia (often referred to as Corey for short) is Artemis and Chiaro's younger sister. From childhood, Cornelia and her younger twin sister Caroline were near-inseparable, but started to grow apart in their teenage years. Corey was always the more reclusive, introverted twin; Carol was the one that craved individuality and went out of her way to make new friends and strive for popularity. This left Cornelia feeling abandoned by the one person that was supposed to be closest to her, and she eventually developed mental instabilities down the line. While Caroline's interests were geared towards trends, fashion, and friends, Cornelia had a penchant for horror films and the occult. She was taken to many therapists when her behavior began to show unsettling tendencies, but she dislikes taking the medication prescribed for her. Like Artemis, Cornelia inherited her supernatural powers from their father, while Caroline was born without any such phenomena from either parent. Cornelia currently shares an apartment with Artemis, who keeps her state of mind in check.
When voicing her, note that Cornelia can be relatively moody. Her normal speaking voice can sound withdrawn and shy, but she is more than capable of dialing it up to express anger or excitement.
[Optional: You don't have to do this, but I would like it if you introduced yourself and state what made you interested in this project.]
(Worried) "Are you doing okay, Artemis? I've noticed you haven't been eating or sleeping as much, and well... you've been less talkative than me as of late. That's saying something. Please take care of yourself, alright? You're all I have left and I don't know what I'd do without you."
(Angry) "I hated him. I hated working in that store every single day. The people suck and they're always mean to me, I always end up having to clean up their mess because they're too fucking blind to see the trash can in front of them, and I always get asked the stupidest questions. This time... I had to do it. I know I'm not supposed to, but I used my powers. I've never felt better at that job than the moment I saw the look of sheer terror in his eyes. I can't show my face there anymore though, and now I have to find another way to come up with my share of the rent. I hate all of it. Worst of all, I feel like I'm letting you down. I don't know what to do anymore."
Peppy, optimistic, sociable. Katya represents everything Artemis isn't. Despite the vast differences in their personalities, Katya managed to be Artemis's sole friend in college. She is a person that enjoys being surrounded by company - always engaging and always in the spotlight. Katya is a hopeless romantic that tends to monopolize conversations with whatever is on her mind, as she is easily excitable. Her chattiness gets on the nerves of others quite often, but those close enough to her know that her heart's always in the right place. There isn't another person in the city that understands the phrase "living in the moment" as well as she does.
Her voice is cheery and upbeat, with a tendency to talk faster depending on how excited she gets.
[Optional: You don't have to do this, but I would like it if you introduced yourself and state what made you interested in this project.]
(Excited) "Oh my god, I have big news. Wanna guess what it is? Forget it, I'll just tell you. I... am getting married! This is the happiest day of my life! Aren't you happy for me? Come on, you gotta be. I can't believe this is finally happening!"
(Coercive) "I know just the perfect thing to fix that sour mood you've been having lately! Come with me to this party tonight. It's going to be a great time with plenty of people all over the city. You're bound to at least meet somebody. Tell you what, I'll even help you pick out some new clothes. My treat."
Indisputably the most chill person in Jaska's social circle. It is uncertain whether Stony is his real name or a nickname given to him due to his habit of giving off pieces of half-baked wisdom. He currently works at the pizza parlor where Jaska and his friends frequent. Stony is an animal enthusiast, with a more refined affinity for reptiles. Though he is rarely seen outside of his workplace or hanging out with his usual three friends, quite a number of people seem to be well-acquainted with him. He's an outwardly simple young man with very complex layers underneath.
His voice should sound relaxed by default with a tendency to drag out some of his words.
[Optional: You don't have to do this, but I would like it if you introduced yourself and state what made you interested in this project.]
(Rambling ) "Last night I saw a moth buzzing around my apartment light. It got me thinkin'. Why are moths so attracted to light, anyway? I did some reading, and one theory says it could be due to some shit called transverse orientation. Somethin' about... usin' a fixed angle on light sources and shit for navigation. See, back in the olden days before man-made lights, moths would use moonlight to get to where they needa be. Then there's this l'il mothafucka thinkin' my porch light is the goddamn moon. He's doin' everything he's hardwired to do... but he ain't gonna get nowhere. S'been fuckin' with me, man."
(Antsy) "Real talk though, when those cops came by I swallowed the whole bag. Think I'mma stay home. Tonight... tonight's gonna be weird."
The member of Jaska's social circle that invited himself in. Andy is the "fratboy wannabe" type of friend that likes to embellish stories to make himself seem more interesting. Jaska and Stony seem to be able to tolerate his tall tales and obnoxious attitude, however Chiaro is the only member of the group who is visibly and vocally annoyed by his antics. Andy is a chauvinistic egotist who chases a life of glory and instant gratification. To put it simply: he is the very definition of a social parasite.
When auditioning for him, try to be as douchey as humanly possible. The more insufferable you can make yourself sound, the better.
[Optional: You don't have to do this, but I would like it if you introduced yourself and state what made you interested in this project.]
{Boastful) "You guys missed one sick ass party last night. I'm talkin' booze, girls, and the best DJ's the city has to offer. Damn, I feel sorry for you losers now. You guys probably stayed in all weekend and jerked off while I was having the time of my LIFE. Hey, can you tell me what mediocrity is like? Shit, I wouldn't know."
(Casually) "Man, this place blows. Hey, you guys wanna do shots in the restroom?"
Chiaro (pronounced "Key-arr-oh) is Artemis's long lost younger brother and second eldest among his siblings. From birth, he inherited the supernatural ability to generate and control electricity which he was taught not to use unless in case of emergencies, but tends to occasionally squander for trivial things (such as charging his phone). At the age of 17, Chiaro ran away from home after a particular dispute with his father and never looked back. After spending the following years in the bad side of town, he became accustomed to fighting which for a while exacerbated his violent tendencies. Eventually, he met Jaska who gradually provided a more positive influence on him. Ever since, the two have been close friends and hang out regularly.
Personality-wise, Chiaro comes off as temperamental and standoffish yet loyal and dependable once a person earns his trust. He's the type that can say a lot with just a few words and a simple facial expression alone. For auditioning him, I would recommend picturing someone whose default emotion is "always annoyed."
[Optional: You don't have to do this, but I would like it if you introduced yourself and state what made you interested in this project.]
(Going off on a rant) "You wanna know what my problem with Andy is? He's a right cunt if I ever knew one and a certified, card-carrying douchebag. Every time we all get together, I have to sit here and tune out his shitty anecdotes that none of us give a fuck about. It's always about how he's scoring some 'dope-ass connection' or about some chick he thinks he's gettin' with. Makes me fucking sick, Jas, and I don't know how the hell you can even stomach the shit that comes out of his mouth. He's so conceited his own worse enemy would be a guy that looks just like him only an inch taller."
(Jaska: "Heh, I think you mean an inch bigger.")
"I could have gone there, but two inches ain't a whole lot for the other guy to work with."
(Reminiscing) "I don't know what got into me that day. I just saw his stupid shit-eating smirk and those bug eyes staring back at me... and all of a sudden I just saw red. My fists just wouldn't stop until his face painted the pavement. I had a lot of shit that I was dealing with and well... after a lot of time to reflect and after I met you I just decided I didn't wanna be that kinda person anymore."
Victor Hildebrand is a young world-renown chess prodigy, holding many accolades but rarely ever seeing the world outside his family's estate and company. The passing of his father named him the successor of the corporate empire "Hildebrand Enterprises." He is competent albeit reluctant of the responsibility that was foisted upon him, and he has yet to command the full respect of the company employees. He is aware of the moral corruption that goes on in the chain of command, but doesn't seem to take any interest in addressing it.
He should have a relatively young voice that sounds calm and collected most of the time. His emotions can sort of be described as a ticking time bomb, waiting to go off when he's pushed over the edge.
[Optional: You don't have to do this, but I would like it if you introduced yourself and state what made you interested in this project.]
(Wistful) "It's been so long since I've been able to come here. Too long. Most days I considered myself lucky if I even had the time to gaze out through my window at it. This exact spot is only several hundred feet from my room, yet to me it always felt worlds away."
(Disgusted) "I've always resented being cooped up in that abominable house for so long. I was always told there was nothing for me out there in the city. Now that I've gotten a closer look, I realize it isn't too far from the truth. Everywhere I go I see faces buried into a screen; lives driven by machine. I can't help but feel that this company has its share of the blame for this."
Claude Carson works at Hildebrand Enterprises as the CFO and treasurer. Behind his sociable and charming exterior lies a man responsible for one of Winddrift's largest money laundering schemes. He doesn't ever appear to be taking his job seriously and it is a question of whether or not he cares for the corporation. Despite this, he is skilled in his field and when it comes to those he feels is a threat; he can be quite ruthless. Carson is the type of person that enjoys getting a rise out of people, and as such he is often seen pestering Lawry in his spare time. Not much is known about him outside the workplace.
His voice should come off as smooth and mature with occasional bits of snide sarcasm in between.
[Optional: You don't have to do this, but I would like it if you introduced yourself and state what made you interested in this project.]
(Monologuing) "You want to know what amazes most about all this? Here you are, staring death in the face and yet I don't see a single drop of fear in your eyes. You aren't pleading for your life or even trying to run away. That tells me two things. One: you've been in this scenario before, and this probably isn't the first barrel you've ever had to look down. That leads me to two. You must think I'm not going to pull the trigger... either by my own volition, or some way, somehow, you yourself can stop me. You're either gonna talk your way out of this, or you're hiding an ace up your sleeve. Chips are down, time to show me what you've got."
(Matter-of-factly) "With all due respect, Lawry, if you actually took the stick out of your ass and took the time to enjoy yourself, you might actually add a few extra years onto your life. The world's got more to offer than figures and spreadsheets, you know. Your office has windows for a reason. Take a look outside 'em every once in a while and maybe you'll know what I'm getting at."
Dr. Sylvan Lawry is an accomplished scientist, architect, and engineer working for Hildebrand Enterprises. He enjoys his moments of solitude, and is rarely seen outside of his office and lab. In addition to being an absolute workhorse, he is willing and capable of exploring morally gray approaches to his research if he feels it will advance his pursuit in achieving results. One of his pet peeves is having his time wasted, and as such he insists on being meticulously punctual in almost everything he does. He's the type of person that would stop sleeping altogether if it were physically possible.
When auditioning for him, note that he has a bit of a smoker's voice. Not necessarily raspy, but rather a little breathy. Most of the time he will sound either tired or contemplative, with his voice sounding cold or even almost subdued. Try to put in some short pauses and breaks in some of his lines - he tends to occasionally speak with a fumfer.
[Optional: You don't have to do this, but I would like it if you introduced yourself and state what made you interested in this project.]
(Rambling) "It happened around midnight. The little rat that broke in. Did quite a number on our equipment and personnel - even set my work back by a few days. Troublesome. Quite troublesome. It was my conjecture that our highly trained private military would be able to take care of one single troublemaker, but I've been wrong before. I hate to admit it, but I've been wrong before. All part of the process, I suppose. Can't win them all. Upon examination of the surveillance footage, we picked up some... peculiarities from our perpetrator. We aren't dealing with an ordinary culprit if the untimely loss of one of our security teams didn't already make that clear."
(Mellow) "I already know what it looks like out there in the city. After all, I designed a great deal of it myself. I'm not one to dwell on the past, so I don't bother reveling in the success of my finished products when I could be busy working on the next one. Object in motion stays in motion. My work remains ephemeral and losing momentum is a luxury I just can't afford, so I'm afraid I'll have to turn down your offer for drinks. What's the appeal to such frivolous pursuits anyway?"
Don't fret if you were not cast for any of the above roles. As the story progresses, I will have need for a larger variety of voices. If you audition here and I like your voice, chances are there will eventually be a role for you in the future. Most of the time, these roles will be for other minor or background characters, but new major roles are expected as well.
[Optional: You don't have to do this, but I would like it if you introduced yourself and state what made you interested in this project.]
[Provide a range of the voices that you can do or use your demo reel.]
When applying for a writer, provide a link where your sample work can be read. To be considered for this project, please follow the guidelines below:
1) State who you are, why you want to be a part of this project, and anything else I should know about you or anything else you want to say about yourself.
2) Describe your character. Biography, personality, and just about every detail you can provide. Remember that your character should fit in a cyberpunk/urban fantasy setting. If your character has any unique abilities or powers, please note that they may be subject to be toned down or altered at my discretion, if I feel it is necessary.
3) Write a scene for your character to demonstrate your writing style as well as how your character interacts with other people and the world around them. Though there isn't a limit to how long this can be, I would recommend no more than two pages worth. Don't worry about the actual world of the story, I'm only looking for what you can provide in a standalone work.
Say something you think would fit
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